Washington Courts: Press Release Detail

State Supreme Court to Hear Oral Arguments at Seattle University

                                                                                                   From:   Lorrie Thompson       

                                                                                                             360-705-5347

                                                                                                Lorrie.Thompson@courts.wa.gov

State Supreme Court to Hear Oral Argument on Three Cases, One Involving Freedom of Speech at Seattle University

The Washington Supreme Court will hear oral arguments outside of the Temple of Justice next week in a community visit to the Seattle University School of Law on Tuesday, October 11, 2005.

Beginning at 9 a.m. in the Justice Fred H. Dore Courtroom, Chief Justice Gerry Alexander and Justices Charles W. Johnson, Barbara A. Madsen, Richard B. Sanders, Bobbe J. Bridge, Tom Chambers, Susan Owens, Mary Fairhurst and James M. Johnson will hear the following oral arguments:

·         No. 76533-2, State (respondent) v. Young (petitioner):  Whether admission of a statement under the “excited utterance” exception to the hearsay rule requires independent evidence of the predicate startling event or condition.

·         No. 76726-2, T.S. (respondent) v. Boy Scouts of America (petitioner):    Whether a party in a civil case may, based on article I, section 7 of the Washington Constitution, preclude discovery of records that contain confidential information regarding non-parties.

·         No. 76544-8, State (respondent) v. Johnston (petitioner):  Whether RCW 9.61.160, which criminalizes threatening to bomb any public or private building, requires the State to prove that the threat was a “true threat” and thus is not protected by the First Amendment.

Immediately following arguments in the first two cases, the justices will answer questions from the audience, then recess to conference on the cases until 12:30 p.m. Justices will then enjoy a lunch with faculty and members of the student body, and reconvene at 1:30 p.m. to hear the last case of the day, State v. Johnston.  The justices will entertain questions from the audience following this case as well.

On October 10th justices will visit Seattle University Law School classrooms in the afternoon, meet with law school administrators and members of the faculty.   

The Washington Supreme Court has made community visits throughout the state since 1985, and welcomes the public to the oral arguments. Though cameras and video recorders are generally allowed, the Court asks that no flash, other lights or noisy film advance mechanisms be used during the hearings. Only one television camera will be allowed to film the oral arguments; other TV stations are asked to pool coverage.   TVW, Washington’s Public Affairs network will be tape the arguments for broadcast at a later time.  Schedule information can be obtained by visiting TVW online at www.tvw.org

Written opinions are rendered approximately three to six months after oral arguments. For further information regarding the Court, visit the Washington Courts web site at www.courts.wa.gov.

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Wendy K. Ferrell Judicial Communications Manager 360.705.5331 e-mail Wendy.Ferrell@courts.wa.gov

Lorrie Thompson Communications Officer 360.705.5347 Lorrie.Thompson@courts.wa.gov